Cash boost to create the next generation of Scottish role models

22 Sep 2017 11:47 AM

An innovative school programme that will educate young people on how to recognise and challenge all forms of discrimination will reach thousands of Scottish pupils thanks to £50,000 of Young Start funding awarded recently (FRIDAY 22 SEPTEMBER).

Anne Frank Trust UK is one of three groups sharing in £127,960 of funding from the Big Lottery Fund’s Young Start programme, thanks to dormant bank and buildings account money. See details of all grants below.

The Trust will use their two year funding award to deliver a Schools and Communities programme in 19 schools in Glasgow and Dundee reaching a total of 8,700 pupils in both cities.  Using a mixture of workshops, exhibitions and training the programme will help to spread the message of respect for others from different backgrounds and is designed to reduce prejudice and discrimination.

Hundreds of young people will also receive training to allow them to become Peer Educators and Anne Frank Ambassadors. Line about the role of Peer Educators and Anne Frank Ambassadors.

Robert Posner, Chief Executive, Anne Frank Trust UK, recently said, “We’ve been working with young people in Scotland for almost ten years now – educating them about the dangers of prejudice and discrimination. We are hugely grateful to Young Start for this award as it helps us to consolidate our work in Scotland as we can now reach thousands more school pupils with this important message.

“A number of pupils who go through the programme will be selected to become Peer Educators. As such they will be trained to communicate Anne’s story, the history of the Holocaust and why it’s still relevant today.

“Of those Peer Educators a number will be chosen to become Anne Frank Ambassadors. These youngsters will be trained to design and deliver workshops, campaigns and assemblies on local issues within their schools and local primary schools.  By acting as role models they will learn responsibility, how to challenge prejudice and become active citizens for equality and social inclusion.”
 
Maureen McGinn, Big Lottery Fund Scotland Chair, said, “With this funding, children and young people across Scotland will be able to unlock their talents through a wide range of activities.  These projects will engage and inspire them to follow their dreams while also building skills and confidence for the future. The Young Start programme creates opportunities for children and young people to achieve their potential and each one of the three projects reflects that aim.”

Other groups that received funding recently were:

Oban Addictions Support and Information Service - Highland
£50,000
The organisation will set up a project for young people who are affected by substance misuse and mental health issues.

Citizens Theatre Ltd – Glasgow
£27,960
The group will develop a theatre project with the aim of tackling damaging behaviour within teenage relationships.

For more information about Young Start visit the website at:- https://www.biglotteryfund.org.uk/global-content/programmes/scotland/young-start

Big Lottery Fund Press Office: 0141 242 1451
Email: lorna.mcniven@biglotteryfund.org.uk
Website: www.biglotteryfund.org.uk
Twitter: @BIGScotland #BigScotland
Facebook: www.facebook.com/BigLotteryFundScotland

Notes to Editors

• Dormant accounts are defined in the Dormant Bank and Building Society Accounts Act 2008 as those which have seen no customer-initiated activity for at least 15 years.  
• In September 2011 the Scottish Government formally issued instructions to the Big Lottery Fund to distribute dormant accounts funding for the benefit of Scotland’s voluntary and community sector.
• The Reclaim Fund Ltd. (RFL), which was established in March 2011 to receive and invest dormant account balances across the UK, transferred the first tranche of monies from dormant bank and building society accounts to BIG on 2 August 2011. Scotland will receive an 8.4% share of the total funds to be distributed.
• The Distribution of Dormant Account Money (Apportionment) Order 2011 prescribes that Scotland will receive 8.4% of the dormant accounts money to be made available for distribution by the Big Lottery Fund under the 2008 Act. The estimated grants budget for 2014/15 is £4.8m. It should be noted that this figure is a median projection and may go up or down.
• Since March 2007 Big Lottery Fund Scotland has taken devolved decisions on National  Lottery spending, the Committee, led by Chair, Maureen McGinn plays a strategic role in the future direction of the Fund in Scotland.
• Since June 2004 we have awarded over £8.5 billion to projects across the UK that change the lives of millions of people. We supported communities to deliver 13,000 projects across the UK last year, thanks to National Lottery Funding.
• Since the National Lottery began in 1994, £37 billion has been raised for Good Causes funding over 510,000 projects.